Page 105 of Big Bad Bully
“Are you okay?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer me. He doesn’t even look at me.
Ouch.
But then he says in a rusty voice, “My father is here.”
Oh. Oh shit. His abusive, shifter-supremacist father. No wonder he went wooden in there.
Brick overhears and shoots him an inquiring look.
“I have no idea how he got in,” Billy says, “but I’m about to handle it.”
“Let him stay unless he tries something. I have nothing to hide.”
A muscle jumps in Billy’s jaw. He doesn’t answer, but his eyes flash with the silver hues of his wolf. We stand and greet the guests. I only know Madi’s family, so my job is to stand and look pretty. Most everyone in attendance is here for the Blackthroats. Ruby is a natural hostess, but Madi exudes a certain power and leadership I haven’t seen in her before. She’s no longer the nerdy Princeton grad who can out think anyone. Now, she has CEO energy. Boss Bitch energy. Alpha of the pack vibes.
I love seeing her like this. No wonder I felt left behind. She’s evolved with quantum leaps.
The last of the guests exit.
Billy scans the place.
“Did he not come out?”
Billy shakes his head. “No.”
“Maybe he left.”
Billy nods, but he still looks grim.
“I have to pee,” Madi murmurs to me, grabbing my hand. She can’t do it by herself with the long train of the dress. Besides, it’s time to take the train off, so she can mingle and dance at the reception.
“On it.” We go into the bridal dressing room where the women got ready for the ceremony. I carefully unhook the six hooks that attach the train. “Okay, you’re free. I’m going to go back out and make sure Billy’s okay.”
Madi blinks at me. “You two are really a thing, aren’t you? It’s so crazy. You’re as different as they come, and I never would’ve seen it coming.”
I hesitate. “Honestly? I don’t know if we’re a thing or not.” The dull ache that’s been there ever since overhearing his indecision gnaws at me.
I find Billy waiting for me just outside the dressing room holding two glasses of champagne, and I want to hug him. Even when he’s torn up inside, he’s always a gentleman.
I accept a glass. “Any sign of your dad?”
“No.” Billy suddenly stiffens and swivels to the right like he smelled him first. “Yes.”
A tall man with the same grey-blue eyes as Billy’s, salt and pepper hair, and an expression that looks like he sucked a lemon advances toward us.
“Who’s this?” the man demands, giving me a disdainful up and down. He lifts his nose in a decidedly canine gesture, then wrinkles his nose. “You’ve been slumming, son.”
My natural instinct is to throw all my sass at this guy, but I don’t want to make things worse for Billy, so I remain quiet, my chin lifted, a matched look of disdain on my face.
“You weren’t invited, old man.” Billy’s voice is flat. Lifeless.
“I was next door at the Adalwulf party, and I just thought I’d pop over to say hello,” Billy’s dad says. “I have powerful friends too, son. You forget how far my reach goes.” He sends another narrow-eyed glance my way.
What a pompous asshole. I don’t care what he thinks about me, but I want to kick him in the balls for being a horrible father. But maybe I’m the one making this worse for Billy. Should I walk away, so he doesn’t have to try to shield me from his dad’s derision?
“You’re not welcome here. Leave before I throw you out.” Billy still sounds deadened. Like all animation leaves his persona when he’s near his father.
